Michigan judge holds self in contempt for phone disruption

Ionia, Michigan – A Michigan judge held himself in contempt of court after his phone caused a disturbance while a prosecutor was presenting closing arguments in a jury trial. As reported by the Associated Press (AP), Judge Raymond Voet paid $25 for violating his posted court policy that cites owners with contempt when their electronic devices disrupt court sessions.

Voet, who previously used a Blackberry purported he had not become familiar with his new touchscreen smartphone and thinks he may have bumped it, which triggered it emitting sounds in court.

Voet is quoted by the AP as stating of the matter, “That’s an excuse, but I don’t take those excuses from anyone else. I set the bar high, because cellphones are a distraction and there is very serious business going on…The courtroom is a special place in the community, and it needs more respect than that.”